View-finder.



W. F.' POLMER.

VIEW FINDER. APPLICATION FILED 00'126, 1909.

Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

' WILLIAM F. POWER, .OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, OF ROCH/ESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION F NEW YORK.

view-FINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led October .6, 1909. Serial No. 521,255.

To all whom 'it mag/concern:

`Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. FQLMER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 4View- Finders; and I -do hereby declare the 'following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and tothe reference-numerals marked thereon. i.

I The present invention relates to photography and it has for its object to provide a compact, simple and etlicient device in the nature of a View finder for attachment to or use in connection with photographic cameras and similar instruments, said nder being of the type which condenses the image of the object to be photographed and enables the photographerto both accurately direct the camera lens and to properly position the image cast thereby-upon the sensitized surface.

The improvements are further directed toward Vproviding means whereby the user can inspect the view, as defined by the iinder, by directing his gaze either in parallelism to the axis of the iinder lens and camera lens or at an angle thereto, means being also provided for alining the optical axis of his eye with that of the finder lens.

` To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvementsand combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter. more a view finder constructed in accord-ance with and illustrating one embodiment of my vention, the latter being'in its operative p sition for a survey of the object from i? rear of the camera; 2 is a side eleva-tionA of the finder, detache but in the' sameposition; Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the finder adjusted for the inspection of'an object from aboveh. or from the side of the i camera; Fig. 41s a side elevation"y of the parts in vfolded position; 1 ngview with the. parts in finder with all.;l Fig. 5 is a top"'pl .s the position of Fig. 2'; Fig. 6 is'a central 'section with the Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 is a'plan view of the parts in the position of Fig. 4.

parts in' the position off v. Similar reference numerals throughout the several figures indicate the same parts.

Referring more particularly to the draw- Vhaving an erect operativeposition at ri ht angles to the camera wall and supporting ulate, or more particularly arallel to the plane of the camera lens 9, t e latter being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The' finder' lens has a tendency toassume this operative position of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, defined by its engagement with stops 9a on the ,support under the influence of springs 10 coiled about the studs 6 and bearing thereon. .In this position, the axis of the nder lens is arallel with that ofthe camera lens and suciently near being coincident therewith for the purpose of similarlyreiiecting the images of objects at adistance.

The ,lens frame 8 can be rotated to the folded position of Figs. 4 and 7 against the .tensions of the springs 10, in which position it is parallel with the camera wall and the plate 1 rand spaced slightly from both by reason ofxthe elevated position of its axis', its lower edge being also similarly spaced when in its operative position, and it 1s held 1n its folded position by a resilient arm 11 exv tending rearwardly from` one ofthe flanges -3 parallel with the lens, the ,latter andthe arm being 'provided respectively withy cooperating projecting and recessed portions l2 and 13 'ch automatically engage and are release lateral deflection of the arm to allow thewlens to reassume-its operative position.- i

At the rear lof. the plate 1 is pivotally mounted to move ina vertical plane a vsight -arm 14 provided with a sighting notch -15 whilethe intersecting point-16 cross hairs i 17A on the lens 7` -forms a centering lde ,ce which when viewed within the notch lfo, the sight arm from in rear of the camera,

brings the vaxis of the eye coincident with" the axis of the lens in the well known manner of a gun sight. -The sight arm also has a normal tendency to assume its erect or ificient for the purpose when the object to be photographed or viewed is sufliciently distant or sufficiently elevated to permit the operator to hold the camera in front of his eye, but for use in instances wherein he desires to hold the camera above or below his eye or ends of the bearing slots.

by the lens is therefore reflected at an angle,

far out at the side, as for example were he desirous of photographing a view over a fence in which case he would invert the camera, or a child very near by in which case he would hold the camera below his eye, I provide means for reflecting the image in a direction transversely to the axes of both the finder lens and the camera lens. The said means embodies in the present instance a mirror 19 mounted in a suitable frame 20 provided near its lower edge with laterally extendingpivotal journals 21 guided in the slots 4 which constitute sliding bearings therefor, Whmiule laterally projecting abutments 22 nearer` the center of the frame are received in the inclined slots 5. Ihe rear lwalls 23 'of these last mentioned slots form cams or guiding surfaces terminating at their lower ends in locking shoulders 24, while the upper end of the slot forms an abutment 25 at the other end. A leaf spring 26, mounted preferably centrally at 27 on the support 1, bears at eitherl end upon the mirror frame in the region of its journals tending to slide the latter rearwardly in the bearings or guides 4 and to ride the abutments 22 of the mirror up the surfaces 23 into engagement with the abutments 25 which maintains the mirror in the operative position of Fig. 3 at an acute angle to the finder lens 7 and to the support and camera walls, the journal pins 21 which form the other points of support, being held by the spring at-,the rear rIhe image cast in the present instance at aright angle away from the camera.

s rIhe mirror has a folded position parallel with and against the plate l, beneath the Vfinder lens, when folded, to which position it is rotated by downward pressure. At the beginning .of'this downward movement its a'Xis 21 is at'one sideyof and'in rear of the central plane of the lens 7, but as itdescends, the4 engagement of the abutments 22 with the cam surfa'ce 23' forces its axis transversely throughthe plane of the lens from the position of 'Fig'. 3 to that of Fig. .2 against the tension of the spring 26 and it will therefore be seen that the mirror moves forwardly in its own plane so that in its folded position its front edge is thrust forwardly beneath the lens. This movement,

it will be seen, greatly lessens the necessary length over all of the findery from front to rear. When the mirror has reached this folded position, the abutments 22 engage behind the locking shoulders 24 under the inA fiuence of the spring 26 and hold the mirror secured until, in being manually raised, the spring is forcibly displaced. With all parts of the finder in folded position the sight arm 14 is held between the mirror and the lens, as'sho'wn in Fig. .4, so that with a deflection `of the arm 11 both the mirror and the arm 14 rotate immediately to the operative position ready for conjoint use without disturbing the mirror, and when the latter is brought into play the fact of the sight 14 being in its operative position is not objectionable.

In order to properly aline .the gaze of the operator with the double reflection of the image the mirror 19 is also preferably provided with a centering device 28 formed by the intersection of cross hairs 29, which point28 coincides with the reflected image of the point 16 on the lens when the axis of the eye has been brought coincident with the reflected axial rays of the lens.

It will be understood that the' utility of my invention is not necessarilylimited to a connection with photographic cameras as it can be taken advantage of in any instance where a condensed view is desired and the nature of its function will readilyA suggest its application to other instruments and uses.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a View finder, the combination with a support adapted to be secured toa camera wall, of a lens pivoted to the support and having an operative position at an angle tothe camera wall and a folded position substantially parallel with the latter, a reflecting mirror also pivoted to the support having an operative position at an angle to 'both the lens and camera wall and an inoperative position parallel' with the latter and a rear sight arm. pivoted to the support on the same side of the lens as the mirror having an operative position in the 'axes of the lens and adapted to assume a folded position between the lens and mirror when the latter are in folded positions.

2. In a view finder, the combination with a support` carrying a lens, lof a mirror pivoted on the support on an axis normally arranged at one side of the plane of the lens, means for maintaining the mirror in an operative position at an acute angle to the latter in ,which it is adapted to slide toward the plane of the lens.

3. In a view finder, the combination 'with a support carrying a lens, ofv a mirror pivoted on the support on an yaxis normally arranged at one side of the plane ofmthe lens, means for maintaining the 'mirror in an opand a bearing for the pivotfof the `mirror erative. position at an acute anglel to'the latter, a bearing for the pivot of the mirror in Which it is adapted to slide toward the plane of the lens and means for sliding the pivot beneath the lens when the mirror is rotated. toan inoperative position substantially atl right angles to the lens.

4, In a view finder, the combination with a support carrying a lens, of a Vmirror pivoted on the support on an axis normally arranged at one side of the plane of the lens, means for maintaining the mirror in an op-l erative position at an acute angle to the latter, a bearing for the pivot of the mirror in which it is adapted to slide toward 'the plane of the lens and means for sliding the pivot beneath the lens vvhen the mirror is rotated to an inoperative position substantially at right angles to the lens embodying a cam and a coperating abutment, one of which parts is arranged on the mirror and the other on arelatively stationary part.

5. In a view finder, the combination with a support carrying a lens, of a mirror pivoted on the 4sup ort on an axis normally arranged at one s1de of the plane of the lens,

means for maintaining the mirror in an operative position at an acute angle to the latter, and a bearing for the pivot of thefmirror inlwhich it 1s adapted to slide towardJ the plane of the lens, a sprin acting against the mirror to resistsuch sli ing movement, and means for sliding the pivot beneath the lens when themirror is rotated to folded position substantially at right angles to the lens embodying a relatively stationary cam, an abutment on the mirror coperating therewith and a locking shoulder atthe end of the cam engaged by the abutment under the influence of the spring to lock the mirror in folded position. I' Y 6. In a view finder, the combination with a support, of a lens and a mirror pivoted thereon and having relatively angular opervative positions, a bearing on the support on which the pivot of the mirror is adapted to slide when the lens and mirror are moved to inoperative parallel positions and means for sliding the pivotof` the mirror on its bearing to the other side of the pivot of the lens during such movement., 'n

7. In a view finder, the combination with a support adapted to be secured to a camera wall and embodying side flanges having one set of guides therein parallelv Withsaid Wall anda second set extending transversely of thefiirst and terminatingy 1n locking shoulders, of ai lens on thesupport, a mirror havy ing an operative position at an angle to the y lens and an inoperative position parallel with the wall rojecting journals .on the mirror arranged o slidein said first 'mentioned guides, a "spring on the support tendence'of t guides as the mirror is rotated and adapted tolock against the shoulder under the infinespring when the mirror reaches one of the sald positions.

8. In a view'iinder, the combination with a support and a lens mounted thereon, of a .pivoted mirrorhaving an operative position at an acute angle to the lens adapted to rotate'to an inoperative position against the support, bearings on the latter on Which the pivots of the mirror are adapted to slide, a guiding surface on the support extending transversely ofthe direction of sliding movementof the mirror in its bearings, said surface terminating at one end in an abutment, an abutment Von the mirror traveling onthe guiding-surface When the mirror is rotated, and a spring normally tending to slide the mirror in one direction in its bearings and to hold its abutment in engagement with that on the guiding surface to maintain lthe mirror in operative position.

9. In a view finder, the combination with a'support and a lens mounted thereon, of a pivoted mirror having an operative position at an acute angle to the lens adapted to roguiding surface on the support extending transversely of the direction of sliding movement of the mirror in its bearings, said surfaces terminating at one end in-an abutment and having a locking shoulder at the other, an abutment on ythe mirror traveling on the guiding surface when the,mirror is rotated between its two positions anda spring tend-4 ing to slide the mirror in one direction in its bearings and to hold its abutment in engagement with that on the guiding surface to maintain the mirror in operative position or in engagement with the locking shoulder to hold the mirror in inoperative position. j

l10.l In a view finder, the combination With a support having relatively angularly arrangedguides and a lens mounted on the support, of a mirror having an operative posit-ion at an acute angle to the lens and provided With projections operating in the guides and a spring bearing on the mirror to hold the projections at corresponding ends of the guides and maintain the mirror in operative position.

11.',In a view finder, the combination wit a support having relatively angularly arranged 'guides and a lens mounted on the support, of a mirror. having an operative vposition at an acute angle to the lens and provided With-projections operatingin the guldes, asprlng bearing on the mirror to hold the projections at'corresponding ends .of theiguides and maintain the mirror in operative position and a locking shoulder and projections at the opposite end of one guide with which he second set of one of the proJections ooperates under 4the tate to an inoperative position against the I support, bearings on the latter on which the plvots of the mirror are adapted to slide, a

'tension of the spring when th mirror is inoved to an ino erative positie y 12. In a view lnder, the combination with a supporting platenadapted to be secured to a Camera/Wall and havin side flan es each provided with a slot para lel with t e. plate and forming a guide, one of the flanges being also provided With a slot extend-i angularly to the other and having a loe ing shoulder at the end thereof, of a lens pivoted between the ianges on an axis arranged above the slotted guides, said lens having an operative position at right angles to the supporting plate and a folded position parallel therewith, a mirror having projecting journals thereon movable in the slotted guides, said mirror having an operative position at an acute an leF to the lens and a folded position paral el with the supporting plate, a

projection on the mirror traveling in the inclined slot as the mirror is rotated from its operative position to its inoperative positlon forl causing it to simultaneously' move on the slotted guides partially beneath the lens and the axis of movement thereof and a leaf Spring on the support engaging the mirror to force it in the opposite direction, said spring operating to hold the projection in engagement with the looking shoulder when the mirror is in folded position or to hold it against the opposite end .of the slot and maintain the mirror in its operative position.

"WILLAM F. FLMER.

Witnesses:

RUSSELL B. Gmrrrm, LUCY A. VAN Conni?. 

